Are you familiar with the geriatric syndrome? View the Management Guide.

A syndrome is a collection of unique symptoms that appear simultaneously and are often brought on by a specific disease or health issue. Geriatrics is the term for elderly people.

A group of symptoms known as geriatric syndrome affects the elderly and is typically caused by the same diseases or health issues. If geriatric syndrome is not adequately treated, it might reduce an elderly person's quality of life.

According to Kane & Ouslander in Geriatric Giants (141), the following are signs of geriatric syndrome:

1. Immobility

When you are immobile, you haven't moved for three days or more. Decubitus ulcers, which are wounds on the body where there are bony protrusions such as the back, buttocks, and heels due to pressure due to too long a lie down and difficult to heal, are one of many disorders that can be caused due to immobilization. This condition is frequently found in the elderly. Consult a physician to determine the causes of immobility so that they can be treated to maximize the mobility of the elderly.

2. Instability 

Rheumatic diseases, gout, osteoporosis, and other muscle and skeletal illnesses can all contribute to instability, as can illnesses of the brain system including Parkinson's disease and stroke sequelae. The results of this instability and falls may include fractures that might result in immobilization, head traumas, and intracranial hemorrhage (blood inside the head).

3. Incontinence urine

A person who experiences incontinence is unable to control their bowel and urine movements. The muscles' deterioration, neurological conditions, irregular bladder contractions, and inadequate bladder emptying brought on by prostatic hypertrophy (enlargement) can all contribute to incontinence.

4. Irritable bowel

Resulting in either diarrhea or impaction (constipation). The exact origin is unknown, but in some cases, large intestine smooth muscle issues are discovered. Stress, psychological illnesses, central nervous system disorders, and problems with intestinal sensory nerves are other potential causes. Consult a physician to assess contributing factors and control stress in order to reduce gastrointestinal problems.

5. Immunodeficiency

The thymus' atrophy, a gland that generates T lymphocyte cells that are important for the body's defense, is just one of several factors that contribute to the immune system's deterioration as we age. Similar symptoms of the first infection include thinned skin and mucosa, as well as decreased reflexes to cough up and sneeze out foreign objects that enter the respiratory tract. All of these mechanisms make older people more susceptible to infectious diseases, which account for a major portion of elderly patients' medical needs. Exercise and consuming nutrient-rich, high-protein diets can help older people's immune systems function better.

6. Infection

Reduced immunological function is one of the effects of the condition. For instance, substances that cause respiratory tract infections can be ejected with phlegm through the cough reflex, but due to the body's diminished capacity, these substances stay in the lungs and cause diseases like pneumonia (pulmonary infection), among others. Instead of the typical adult symptoms of fever, cough, shortness of breath, and leukocytosis (increased white blood cell count), pneumonia patients typically exhibit decreased appetite, weakness, and decreased consciousness, as well as incontinence and falls (caused by loss of consciousness). If an elderly person begins to exhibit signs of infection, such as decreased appetite, weakness, or diminished consciousness, you should take them to the doctor right away.

7. Iatrogenics

Geriatric people frequently need to take a lot of medications because of their multipathologic characteristics. Negative effects and even fatal drug-drug interactions are among the consequences. Always seek medical advice before taking medication since older patients require extremely cautious and thoughtful drug administration.

8. Intellectual impairment

From a reduction in the quantity of nerve cells (neurons) to conditions like diabetes mellitus that have an impact on metabolism. The brain is an organ that depends heavily on glucose for energy; thus, when there is a disturbance in the energy supply to the brain due to diabetes mellitus, the brain may receive less oxygen. By taking medicine as prescribed for conditions that need to be treated (such as diabetes and hypertension), this can be avoided. Families can assist the elderly in engaging in brain-training activities such as playing crossword puzzles together, reciting the Koran, accompanying them when they engage in their hobbies, and engaging in mild exercise so that memory is preserved.

 

Consult a Hermina Soreang Hospital internal medicine specialist right away if you develop similar symptoms.

To make registration at Hermina Soreang Hospital easier, download the Hermina Mobile Apps app.


Referensi :

1. Sindrom geriatri rumusan oleh Kane & Ouslander dalam Geriatric Giants (141)